2021-12-06 06:50:11
Survey untamed wilderness, uncover mining history and pursue some of the state’s most iconic outdoor activities in South Fork, Creede and Lake City. A cruise along the newly electric-vehicle-friendly Silver Thread byway is a must. The 117-mile, route connects welcoming towns that embrace their Western roots (and plenty of access to outdoor adventure), and ends at beautiful Blue Mesa Reservoir west of Gunnison. Start in South Fork, where show-stopping views await. Drop a line in the Rio Grande’s 20 miles of Gold Medal waters for primo trout fishing; rent an e-bike; or hike a section of the Continental Divide Trail, a 3,100-mile trek between Canada and Mexico. Packed with rugged peaks, alpine lakes and woodlands, Weminuche Wilderness also draws adventure-seekers. Creede boasts a small-town ambiance and many reminders of its silver-boomtown past. At the Creede Historical Museum and Underground Mining Museum, get a peek into the lives of miners and entrepreneurs who shaped the town, then stroll Main Street, where businesses are housed in 1890s storefronts. Many natural marvels lie between Creede and Lake City, including majestic North Clear Creek Falls and sapphire-blue Lake San Cristobal, which was formed when a slow-moving earthflow naturally dammed the valley just 800 years ago. Another special spot west of Lake City is American Basin: high-alpine backcountry awash in late-summer wildflowers. Lake City itself lays claim to an impressive collection of 1870s buildings, several nearby ghost towns (including Carson, Animas Forks and Capitol City) and inspiring panoramas of the San Juan Mountains. For anglers, campers or hikers, Lake City is prime headquarters for all kinds of fresh-air exploits. You can also pick up a ghost tour at the Hinsdale County Museum and see a show at the old-timey Mountaineer Theatre. Stay & Play Options Creede, Del Norte, Lake City, South Fork (page 186) WITH OVER A MILLION ACRES OF UNTAMED LANDS IN THE RIO GRANDE NATIONAL FOREST, YOU’LL FIND PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR DISPERSED CAMPING AND BACKPACKING. RENT AN ATV OR SNOWMOBILE FOR THRILLING ADVENTURES. OUTFITTERS HAVE ALL THE GEAR AND KNOWLEDGE TO GET YOU SET UP AND POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HEAD OVER TO COLORADOBYWAYS.COM FOR INFORMATION ON ALL BYWAYS ROUTES, INCLUDING VIDEOS, TRIP TIPS, ITINERARIES AND MORE. WINTER FUN Lake City itself lays claim to an impressive collection of 1870s buildings, several nearby ghost towns (including Carson, Animas Forks and Capitol City) and inspiring panoramas of the San Juan Mountains. For anglers, campers or hikers, Lake City is prime headquarters for all kinds of fresh-air exploits. You can also pick up a ghost tour at the Hinsdale County Museum and see a show at the old-timey Mountaineer Theatre.
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